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(No Model.) L 2 sheets-sheen 1. G. P. A.v GNTHER. FISH TANK 0R. AQUARIUM.

Y No. 475,082. Patented May 17, 1892.

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(No Model.)

G. P. A. GNTHER. FISH TANK 0R AQUARIUM..

Patented. May 1'7',` 1892.

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GEORGE P. A GNTHER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.y

FISH-TANK 0R AQUARIUM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 475,082, dated May 17, 1892.

Application filed December 14, 1891. Serial No. 414,981. (No model.)

To all whom, t may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE P. A. GUN- THER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York city, New York, have invented certain Improvements in Fish-Tanks or Aquariums, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide simple and efficient means for keeping the bottom or bed of an aquarium free from the iish slime or sediment which usually accumulates thereon, and this object I attain by providing such a flow or current of water at and near the bottom of the tank as will continuously and forcibly carry off any such sedimentary matter to appropriate Outlets.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a sectional perspective view of a portion of an aquarium constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a modified form of aquarium, illustrating the application of my invention thereto; and Fig. iis an enlarged section of part of the aquarium shown in Figs. l and 2.

In Figs. 1 and 2, A represents the foundation of the aquarium, and B the containing structure mounted thereon and having its walls composed of sheets or plates of lglass suitably connected together, the bottom of the tank having sloping sides and a narrow flat bottomffrom which near the center rise two low ribs or flanges a, which, in connection with tiles or slabs b resting on supporting-blocks d raised above the tops of these ribs, form a central discharge-passagef, communicating with a discharge-pipe g, extending through an arched vault formed in the foundation.

Along each side of the tank, close tothe bottom of the glazed walls of the same, eX- tends a pipe D, which is perforated on its in- -.:ner side, so that water under pressure adposits from the dischargepassage f, there should be a steady and continuous flow of water therefrom, which may be effected by means of a valve at the discharge end of the pipe g, but which I prefer to effect by connecting said pipe to one or more branch pipes t' eX- tending up to the desired level of water in the tank, so as to serve as overIiow-pipes, and thus provide for a steady and continuous discharge of water from the passage f in accordance with the volu me of fresh water introduced into the tank.

The pipes D may serve as the sole means for supplying the fresh water, or there may, if desired, be an additional supply discharged into the top oi' the tank,the main purpose of the pipes D in this case Abeing to act as a cleansing device.

I preferably arrange the overflow-pipes t at the sutures of the glass plates, forming the sides of the tank, the overflow-pipe either running outside ofthe grooved'bar to which the glass plates are secured, as shown at the left hand side of Fig. 2, or said bar being hollow, as shown in Fig. 4, so as to itself constitute an overflow-pipe, as shown at t', at the righthand side of Fig. 2, the pipe in either case communicating with a discharge trough,pipe,` or passage m at its upper end, so as to freely carry off the overflow-Water from the tank.

In` Fig. 3 I have illustrated my invention as applied to a tank having aflatbottom and an overow-passage at the rear, the jets from the pipe D in this case being directed along the bottom of the tank and toward the inlet into said overflow-passage.

Having thus described my invention, I

claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent- IOOy said discharge-passage and rising adjacent to the Walls, of the `aquarium, substantially as :o the sides of the tank, substantially as specispecified. f fied. In testimony whereof I have signed my 3. A fish-tank or aquarium having glazed name to this specification in the presence of 5 sides, a discharge-passage with iniet-opentwosubseribing Witnesses.

ings at or near Jche bottom of the tank, and GEO. P. A. GNTHER. overflow-pipes communicating with said dis- Witnesses: f charge-passage, and located Within the su- EUGENE ELTERICH,

ture-bars between the plates of glass forming HARRY SMITH. 

